Credit: The Associated Press

Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) shoots past Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) in the second half of Game 3 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series on Friday, April 25, 2014, in Washington. The Bulls won 100-97.

The NBA and many of its owners have long been in search of greater parity to thwart one of the enduring criticisms of the league's playoffs — that the outcome is too predictable.

That the kind of suspense that makes March Madness so compelling, and the kind of hope that gives fan bases across the NFL the belief that their team has a chance to win it all, doesn't exist in the NBA.